As government services, infrastructure and supply chains become more connected, cyber disruption carries consequences well beyond the technology environment.
An incident can affect essential services, operational continuity, public confidence and national security. For government leaders, resilience is increasingly about more than stopping every attack. It is about preparing institutions to keep operating, make sound decisions and maintain trust when disruption occurs.
That challenge will set the tone for Government Cyber Security Showcase Federal 2026, opening with two senior Australian Government keynotes focused on the Commonwealth’s changing cyber posture.
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Horizon 2.0: looking beyond prevention
Ash Bell, Assistant Secretary – Cyber Policy, Department of Home Affairs, will open the program with the keynote “Horizon 2.0: The Future of Government Resilience Starts Now.”
The session looks ahead to an environment where disruption is no longer treated as an exceptional event. As government becomes increasingly dependent on interconnected digital services and shared infrastructure, agencies need to be prepared to adapt and continue delivering even when conditions are uncertain.
Ash will explore:
- why resilience is overtaking prevention as a central cyber priority
- how government can maintain operational continuity across connected environments
- what trusted and adaptive public services need to look like by 2030 and beyond
The shift matters because prevention alone cannot address every threat. Mature cyber resilience also depends on preparation, clear responsibilities, practiced response arrangements and the ability to recover without losing the confidence of the public.
Horizon 2.0 brings those elements together as a longer-term view of what government needs to build now.
Australia’s changing cyber environment
The second opening keynote will be delivered by Stephanie Crowe, Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Signals Directorate.
In “The State of Cyber Security in Australia,” Stephanie will examine how geopolitical instability, increasingly sophisticated state-sponsored actors and growing digital dependency are changing the threat environment for government.
Nation-state activity targeting government and critical infrastructure is becoming more persistent and capable. At the same time, Australians expect essential public services to remain available and reliable, even during periods of disruption.
That makes cyber resilience closely connected to national resilience. Protecting systems remains essential, but so does ensuring government institutions can continue operating and supporting the community when an incident occurs.
The keynote will explore:
- the increasing sophistication and persistence of nation-state targeting
- why cyber resilience is becoming inseparable from national resilience
- what the current cyber threat landscape means for government agencies
Together, the two opening keynotes offer a clear message: the cyber environment has changed, and government readiness needs to change with it.
A full day focused on resilience and response
The conversation will continue across two dedicated tracks: Governance, Strategy and Risk, and Detection and Response.
Across the wider Showcase, government leaders and practitioners will explore:
- AI-enabled attacks and machine-driven threats
- cybercrime, scams and identity theft
- critical infrastructure and operational technology
- identity, privacy and secure access
- third-party and supply chain exposure
- incident preparedness and coordinated response
- secure innovation and AI governance
- intelligence-led detection and response
The program also includes interactive roundtables, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss practical challenges with peers and compare how different agencies are preparing for the same emerging risks.
For professionals working across cyber security, risk, national security, ICT, digital services, operations and critical infrastructure, the Showcase offers a practical look at the priorities shaping government cyber resilience now.
Government Cyber Security Showcase Federal 2026 takes place on Thursday, 22 October 2026 at the National Convention Centre Canberra.
Registration is complimentary for government employees.
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